Automatic self-locking folding table



may 1, 1923;.

- J, F. .'JANlscH AUTOMATIC SELF LOCKING FOLDING TABLE My l, 1923. 1,453,504 J. F. .mNlsscf-l A AUTOMATIC SELF LOCKING FOLDING TABLE Filed Nov. 1o, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. F, JANISCH `AUTOMATIC SLF LOCKING FOLDING TABLE May 1, 1923. 1,453,504

Filed Nov. l0 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 03M@ olf@ o, s @1g v E N "a w Y N w l' Patented May 1, 1923.

N unirse ser-aras Jenn r.. .initieert or KmKsvILLn, lvirsscfmnr.

Anr'iirnrio. shLnLfnocKrNe FOLDING [rinatal Application sied 'Nuv'emter 12o, 1921-. serial nd. nasse.

To all 1o/hom t may concer/rt: Y

Be it known tha-t'LJoHN F. JANrsorr, a citizen of the United States,` residing at Kirltsvill'e, in the county oi' Adair and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Automatic Self-Locking Folding Table, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables particularly designed for use in giving osteopathic treatments. l v Y One of thel objects` ofthe invention is to provide a table m'ade up of movably 'con- 'nected sections having means whereby they are prevented from sagging at their inner or connected ends, the legs of the table being so mounted that when the table sections are folded togethenthe said legs will also be folded inwardly so that the table can thus be stored in a small space. y

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the coint binatio'n and arrangement of 'parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, itA being understood that, within the scopeof what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without depart'- ing' from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the' invention has been shown.

In said drawings- 4 l Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through the table,'th'e same being' set up for use.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section showing the table folded.

Figure 3 is a` section on line 3-3, Figur' 1'.

Figure 4- is a section on line 4 1, vFig urell.

` Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a modified form oftable.

' Referring to the figures by characters' of reference k1 and2 designate the sections of the table top', said sect-ions being provided with side flanges or aprons 3 extending downwardly therefrom and which are connected near their lower edges at the inner ends by links 4, one link being provided at each side of the table.

Pivotally connected to the-outer end portion of each of the aprons 3 is a leg 5, the two legs at each end of the table being connected b v a cross strip 6, thus to provide a rigid structure. Each leg 5 has a plate 7 attached to' the outer side thereof and constituting 'a i bearing and a spacing element as' shown in Figure 1. The pivot pin 8 extends through this plate and also through'the'leg 5 and the apron 3 as shown in said Figure et.v An *i arm 9 is extended upwardly 'and inwardly from each of the plates 7 and to each of these arms is pivoted a link 10. Each link, in turn, is pivotally connected a-ssa't 11, to'vo'ne end of a tie 12f'w'hich extends ,under thefinner portions of the table sections' land v2, f

the two ends of the tie being` inclined so as' to diverge upwardly as shown at 13 and each of said ends having a longitudinal slot 14 into which extends a l.g'fuide lug y15 pron jecting inwardlyfrom the apron 3.v It is to bennderstood that one tie' 12 isprovided adjacent each side of the table and that lone link 10 at each end of the table is connected to @nel of these ees while. the` remaining# links lare connected to the Vother tie. l i f u A hanger 16 is pivotally connected to the center of the link 4 andhas laterally extendthe respective' 'ends' .of

ing arms 17 from the upper edge 'of which i are ext-ended laterally projecting stop yokes 18. A pivot Astudy 19 is extended `laterally from the hanger l'between the arms 17 and on this stud are mounted the members of the tie12. It willy noted that this' ltie' lis formed of oppots'itely, extended 'Portions y which lap the arms 17 and lare vmount,- ed at their lapping ends vupon the stud 19. i When the table is. extended for -use the -yokes`18 bear downwardly `on the members or portions of the ties 12. Thus the pivotally connected endsof themembers of each tie cannot swing downwardlyunder the thru-sts exerted through the hangers 1:6 becausev this would necessitate upward swinging of the members of the ties `against andv past 'the yoke 18. Consequently y'okes 18 Aand the pivot studs 19 will cooperate with Athe ties toproperly support the inrvie'rhends` of thetabi secties and atrae eine une the links" 10 and thev parts to which they are connected will hold the legs 5 against swingl ing movement.

l/Vhen it is desired to fold the table the inner ends of the sections 1 and 2 are pulled upwardly. This will cause thel hangers 16" shown in Figure 2.

To open up the table for use it becomes merely necessary to swing the sections l and 2 apart whereupon the legs will swing outwardly and the yokes 18 will move onto the tie members or sections so that the parts will be positioned as shown in Figure l.

lf desired the outer end of one of the sections, 2, can be provided with a foot rest 2O while a head rest 2l may be connected to the legs 5 supporting the other section l. This head rest can be mounted on an angu lar extension 22 pivotally connected to the legs as shown at 23. A notched supporting bar 24 is pivotally connected to the extension and adjustably engagesa cross rod 25 attached to the legs.y Thus the head rest 2l can be held at any desired angle relative to the table top. As shown in Figure 2 the foot board and the head rest will not interfere with the folding of the table.

In Figure 5 another modified front section has been'illustrated. ln this form of the device the table sections 26 and 27 are connected by side links 28 similar to the links 4 and to these links are pivoted hangers 29 similar to thehangers 16 hereinbefore referred to. Fach of the sections 26 and 27 has connected legs pivotally attached to the outer: end portion thereof and these legs are further attached to the sides of the sections by braces consisting of links 3l and 32 pivotally attached to an intermediate link 3B having a flange 34 constituting an abutment for the links 31 and 32 to hold the several links substantially in yalignment while the table is in use.

Each of the links 3l is slotted longitudinally as indicated at 35 and is pivotally andA slidably engaged by a stud 36 extending from one end of a tie 87 corresponding with the tie l2, the two ties being pivotallyattached to the hangers 29 as shown at 38. The outer end portions of the ties are offset upwardly and slotted as shown at 39 to receive guide studs 40 extending inwardly from the sides of the sections 26 and 27.

Secured to the bottom portion of the section 26 are one or more inclined guide rods 4l on each ofv which is slidably mounted a sleeve 42 connected by a link 43 to the legs 30. The headrest 44 is pivotally attached to the sleeve 42 and slidably mounted on a supporting rod 45. Thus it will be seen that when this form of table is folded with the legs 30 extending toward each other and under the sections 26 and 27 and said sections are folded together as in the structure illustrated in Figure 2, the sleeve 42 .will be shifted longitudinally along the rod 41 by the link 43 with the result that the headrest 44 will be retracted to position under the section 26. l/Vhen, however, the table is set up for use the movement will be reversed and the `headrest 44 will be projected to the position illustrated in Figure 5.

Vlhat is claimed is l. A folding table including top sections, links connecting the same, legs pivotally connected to the sections adjacent the outer ends thereof, foldable ties supported by the links and slidably and pivotally engaging the top sections, stop devices supported by the links for engagement by the ties to support the inner ends of the top sections in extended or act-ive positions, and foldable braces connecting the top section and the legs and pivotally and slidably .engaged by the ties `for folding the legs inwardly between the top sections when said sections are folded together 2. A folding table including top sections, links connecting the same, legs pivotally connected to the sections adjacent the outer ends thereof, foldable ties supported by the links and slidably engaging the top sections, stop devices supported by the links for engagement by the ties to support the inner ends of the top sections in extended or active positions, and means connecting the ties and the legs for folding the legs inwardly between the top sections when said sections are folded together, a guide device connected to one of the top sections, a headrest attached thereto, means carried by said top section for supporting theheadrest, and

means operated by the folding of the legs for sliding the headrest upon its supporting and guiding means to position beneath said top section In testimony that I `claim the vforegoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature.

JOHN F. JANISCH. 

